Baltic & Caucasus Explorer

Arrive at Tallinn International Airport where our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your centrally located hotel. After check-in and refreshments, enjoy an orientation walk through Tallinn's enchanting medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with its perfectly preserved city walls, cobblestone streets, and Gothic spires. Evening welcome dinner featuring traditional Estonian cuisine. Overnight in Tallinn.

 After breakfast, full day discovering Estonia's charming capital. Visit the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its distinctive onion domes, the imposing Toompea Castle housing the Estonian Parliament, and the medieval Town Hall Square with its Gothic town hall. After lunch, visit the Kadriorg Palace, built by Peter the Great for his wife Catherine, with its beautiful gardens and art museum. Continue to the seaside district of Pirita for views of the Gulf of Finland and the striking Soviet-era TV Tower. Evening at leisure to enjoy Tallinn's vibrant café culture. Overnight in Tallinn.

After breakfast, journey south to Latvia, traveling through the picturesque Estonian and Latvian countryside. En route, stop at the charming town of Pärnu, Estonia's summer capital with its beautiful beach and neoclassical buildings. Cross the border into Latvia and continue to Riga, arriving in the late afternoon. Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening orientation walk through Riga's historic center with its stunning Art Nouveau architecture. Dinner at a local restaurant featuring Latvian specialties. Overnight in Riga.

Full day exploring Latvia's vibrant capital. Visit the impressive Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltics, and St. Peter's Church with its panoramic tower offering spectacular views of the city. Explore the colorful Central Market housed in five massive zeppelin hangars from WWI. After lunch, discover Riga's renowned Art Nouveau district, which boasts the world's finest collection of Art Nouveau buildings. Evening visit to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia to understand the country's Soviet and Nazi occupation periods. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Riga.

After breakfast, depart for Lithuania. En route, visit the magnificent Rundale Palace, the "Versailles of Latvia," designed by the same architect as St. Petersburg's Winter Palace. Continue to the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, a unique pilgrimage site with thousands of crosses symbolizing Lithuanian national identity and religious devotion. Arrive in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, in the late afternoon. Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening orientation walk through the atmospheric Old Town. Overnight in Vilnius.

Vilnius and Trakai Morning exploration of Vilnius, starting with the magnificent Vilnius Cathedral and Bell Tower in Cathedral Square. Visit the historic Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe, and the stunning baroque Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. After lunch, excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with its picture-perfect island castle set on Lake Galvė. Return to Vilnius for a free evening to explore the charming cafés and restaurants of the Old Town. Overnight in Vilnius.

After breakfast, transfer to Vilnius airport for a flight to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine (flight included). Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy an evening orientation tour of Kiev's main boulevard, Khreshchatyk Street, and the majestic Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), the focal point of Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity. Dinner at a traditional Ukrainian restaurant featuring local specialties. Overnight in Kiev.

Full day discovering Ukraine's historic capital. Visit the magnificent St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning 11th-century mosaics and frescoes. Continue to the golden-domed St. Michael's Monastery and the historic Podil district. After lunch, explore the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), one of the most sacred Orthodox Christian sites with its network of underground caves housing mummified monks. Evening leisure time to enjoy Kiev's vibrant atmosphere. Overnight in Kiev.

After breakfast, morning visit to the impressive Motherland Monument (Rodina Mat) and the compelling Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Transfer to Kiev airport for a flight to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (flight included). Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel in the heart of this ancient city nestled among the Caucasus Mountains. After check-in, enjoy a brief orientation walk along Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi's main boulevard. Dinner featuring traditional Georgian cuisine with local wine. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Full day exploring Georgia's enchanting capital, a fascinating blend of European, Persian, and Soviet influences. Visit the 4th-century Narikala Fortress overlooking the city, the ancient Metekhi Church, and the historic sulfur baths district of Abanotubani. Stroll through the charming Old Town with its distinctive wooden balconies and winding lanes. After lunch, visit the Georgian National Museum to understand the country's rich history and the impressive Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), one of the world's largest Orthodox churches. Evening farewell dinner with traditional Georgian cuisine and folk show featuring polyphonic singing and traditional dances. Overnight in Tbilisi.

After breakfast, morning free for last-minute shopping at the colorful Dry Bridge Market, famous for Soviet memorabilia and local crafts. Depending on your flight time, optional excursion to Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital and spiritual heart with its UNESCO-listed churches (extra charge). Transfer to Tbilisi International Airport for your departure flight, taking home wonderful memories of your journey through the former Soviet republics.